The forward scored seven goals in 13 games, but invoked a release clause in his contract after the Hammers were relegated. The Magpies needed a player to fill the void left by Andy Carroll, who had earlier joined Liverpool for £35m, and
signed Ba on a three-year deal
in June 2011.

The Senagalese player scored 16 goals during his first full season as Newcastle finished fifth and qualified for the Europa League.

He is the club's top scorer this season and his departure would leave just Papiss Cisse and Shola Ameobi as the only senior strikers at the club. The pair have scored eight goals between them during the current campaign.

I would love him to come to Liverpool but he's too cheap and highly rated for us. If we could get Newcastle to accept a much higher bid for him we'd take him off your hands and then loan him to West Ham in a year once we've ruined his career by constantly sitting him on the bench...oh hang on a minute...

Will be very sorry to see him leave if he does go. However IMO him and Cisse struggle to play together as too similar.

Maybe better for Cisse to partner another striker.

Our main problem (wee little club we are) is our defence, had that been better last 2 games sir pratski would have possibly been dribbling from the other side of his mouth. Thats our worry not Ba going.

Whether you were trying to be witty or not is irrespective of the facts that it wasn't very witty and was indeed a silly comment to make.

@ 17 - Only thing I disagree with (as unfortunately it pains me to agree that we punched above our weight last season, lack of strength in depth has exposed us this season) is that he'd be happy on the bench.

No player in the world is worth £122m, not even Messi, or Ronaldinho during his prime time. Torres isn't worth £50m and Carroll isn't worth £35m. At one point AC Milan wanted Ronaldo for £185m, that speaks for itself. Yes I appreciate that I support a team who's somewhat been overran by money, however, money has ruined football, and has ruined the ego and rep of footballers'.

Senegal failed to qualify for the finals so both Ba and Cisse are available this January. Also, after this year the Cup moves to a biennial format rather than an annual one, still a pain to lose the players but much better.

Chelski, where careers go to die. The club where "if at first you don't succeed, keep buying more".

Benitez will testify to this."

No you're totally wrong. The spine of the team; Cech, Terry, Lampard and Drogba; the reason we won the Champions League last year and the absence of which has caused our poor run this season, have been around for a decade averaged together.

Another example of where football players are these days. Money above all else and no sense of loyalty at all. This happens time and again, time to ban agents and have all dealings through the FA or PFA.

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